All tagged Dads

My Transformation Into Fatherhood: An Interview with Peter Jennings

My Transformation Into Fatherhood: An Interview with Peter Jennings

Christine Jennings CD(DONA)
Fathers/Partners

Peter Jennings is a realtor, a husband, a father, and a fierce friend. For this Father’s Day, Peter shares his experience of becoming a father and using doula support during his transformation into parenthood.

Peter and I have been married for five years and partnered for ten. Together, we have two daughters and had two very different birth experiences. Our first daughter, Hazel was born in hospital under obstetric care with birth doula support and postpartum doula support. I had an epidural and an augmented labour with pitocin. For the birth of our daughter Zoe, we had a home birth with midwives and doula support.

Read on to hear about Peter’s firsthand experience of becoming a father, how each birth transformed him, and how doula support impacted each experience.

Why Dads Want A Doula

Why Dads Want A Doula

Bethany Galster
Childbirth Preparation

Woman-to-woman support has been a cornerstone of birth support throughout human history. Whether medically, physically or emotionally, women have long been depicted helping other women as they transition into motherhood.

The recent (in the grand scheme of things) addition of fathers to the childbirth process has been a welcome and needed evolution in birth support. But this can sometimes lead to concern about a trained and professional support person also joining the team.

Common fears/questions from partners often include: 

  • What will my role be if a doula is there? Aren't I enough?
  • Will she put pressure on me to aid my partner in a way I don’t feel comfortable with? 
  • That's a lot of money - do we really need her?

Instead of explaining my very biased (yes, doulas are amazing!) point of view, I reached out to some dads I've previously worked with. Here’s what they had to say...